List Of Fossils Found In South Africa

A derived, reworked or remanié fossil is a fossil found in rock that accumulated significantly later than when the fossilized animal or plant died.

Find below are the list of Fossils Found In South Africa

Sterkfontein Caves

Address: Kromdraai Rd, Johannesburg
Phone: 014 577 9000

Cradle of Humankind

Phone: 014 577 9000

Swartkrans.

Sterkfontein.

Minnaar’s Cave.

What famous fossils have been found in South Africa?

Australopithecus lived in Eastern and Southern Africa between 4.2-million and 2-million years ago. “Lucy” and “Mrs Ples” are arguably East and South Africa’s most famous Australopithecus fossil finds.

Where are important fossils found in South Africa?

Known in South Africa as the Cradle of Humankind, the region of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and environs has one of the world’s richest concentrations of hominid fossils, evidence of human evolution over the last 3.5-million years.

How many fossils have been found in South Africa?

Hundreds of Massospondylus fossils have been collected across southern Africa, ranging in size from baby to adult. One of these specimens has been in the collections at the University of the Witwatersrand’s Evolutionary Studies Institute since 1978. The fossil has been included in research before.

Where are dinosaur fossils found in South Africa?

IIf you’re in the Karoo, you’ll be able to view evidence of dinosaurs from about 250 million years ago. For the really, really old tracks, early Jurassic traces are in the Drakensberg and Maluti mountains in the Free State and Eastern Cape provinces.

Why is South Africa rich in fossils?

Because of the great antiquity of the South African rock record, South Africa is blessed with a rich fossil heritage which contains a variety of fossils from all different geological ages, starting with the oldest evidence of life known.

What hominids were found in South Africa?


The two most common hominid ancestors found in the area of South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind are Paranthropus robustus and Australopithecus africanus.